Kentucky (11-1) scored first on an Obi layup but Belmont tied the game on their next possession. Hassett gave UK a 4-2 lead and when Morgan hit a three, Kentucky led by five. Belmont scored the next four before Strack scored, giving UK a 9-6 advantage. However, the Bruins would hit a three to tie the game.
Obi scored underneath to make it 11-9 before Belmont tied the game again with two free throws. Morgan scored to give UK the lead back and Strack made it 15-11. Belmont hit a three to cut the UK lead to one, but a free throw from Kaelyn Carroll made it 16-14 Cats after one quarter.
Kentucky was able to grow the lead early in the second quarter. Threes from Hassett and Asia Boone gave UK a 22-14 lead and forced a Belmont timeout. After the Bruins scored, Hassett hit another three to stretch the lead to 25-16. A Strack basket and two Obi free throws closed out the 13-2 run that gave the Cats a 29-19 lead.
Belmont responded with a 12-4 run to get back within five, 33-28. Two Obi free throws gave UK a seven-point lead. Late threes from Hassett and Obi gave UK a 41-32 lead at the half. Obi led all scorers with 13 points in the first half.
Strack would score the first eight points of the third quarter as UK built the lead to 49-32. Belmont would respond by scoring 11 in a row to cut the Kentucky lead to six. That run was ended by two Morgan free throws. Strack added two free throws to make it 53-43 and a Hassett three extended the UK lead to 56-43. The Cats would lead 56-46 after three quarters.
The teams went back and forth early in the fourth quarter, with Kentucky maintaining a double-digit lead. However, Belmont scored seven in 8a row to cut the UK lead to 63-58 with 4:43 remaining. A Teonni Key free throw stopped the run and gave the Cats a six-point lead.
Hassett hit two free throws, then Key converted a layup to make it 68-58. After a Belmont basket, Hassett hit a three to extend the lead to 11. Belmont would get back within seven, but could get no closer.
Kentucky returns to action on Friday, hosting Wright State inside Historic Memorial Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on SEC Network Plus.